colectomy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “colectomy” mean?
A surgical operation to remove all or part of the colon.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surgical operation to remove all or part of the colon.
A major abdominal surgery performed to treat diseases of the large intestine, such as cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, or diverticulitis. The extent of removal (partial, total, or subtotal) defines the specific type of colectomy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent. The procedure name and medical context are identical.
Connotations
Identical technical/medical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both dialects, used exclusively in medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “colectomy” in a Sentence
Patient + undergo + a + [type] + colectomySurgeon + perform + a + colectomy + on + patientCondition + require + a + colectomyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “colectomy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The surgeon will colectomise the affected segment.
- The decision was made to colectomise.
American English
- The surgeon will colectomize the diseased section.
- They had to colectomize due to perforation.
adjective
British English
- The colectomy patient recovered well.
- He discussed the colectomy procedure in detail.
American English
- The colectomy patient recovered well.
- She reviewed the colectomy risks and benefits.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and healthcare research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of personal medical discussions or health news articles.
Technical
Core term in surgical, gastroenterological, and oncological contexts. Precise and mandatory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “colectomy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “colectomy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “colectomy”
- Misspelling as 'colectemy' or 'colecotmy'.
- Using it to refer to removal of the small intestine (which is an 'enterectomy').
- Pronouncing the first syllable as /kɒl/ (like 'collage') instead of /kə/ or /koʊ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is considered major abdominal surgery, often requiring a significant hospital stay and recovery period.
Yes, many people live full, active lives after a colectomy. Adaptation depends on the extent of the removal; some may require an ostomy bag or have altered bowel habits.
A colectomy is the surgical removal of the colon. A colostomy is a related procedure that creates an opening (stoma) on the abdomen for waste to exit, which may be temporary or permanent after a colectomy.
Yes. Common types include total (entire colon), partial or segmental (part of the colon), hemicolectomy (right or left half), and subtotal (most of the colon).
A surgical operation to remove all or part of the colon.
Colectomy is usually technical/medical in register.
Colectomy: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈlɛktəmi/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊˈlɛktəmi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COLon + ECTOMY (cutting out). A colectomy cuts out part of the colon.
Conceptual Metaphor
SURGERY IS REMOVAL / THE BODY IS A MACHINE WITH REPLACEABLE PARTS.
Practice
Quiz
What does a 'colectomy' specifically involve?